John Glenn, Astronaut and Senator, Dies at 95

John Glenn, who in 1962 became the first American to orbit Earth, died at a hospital in Columbus, Ohio. He was 95 years old.

Glenn was also a four-term senator for his home state of Ohio, whose governor, John Kasich, issued the following statement:

John Glenn is, and always will be, Ohio’s ultimate hometown hero, and his passing today is an occasion for all of us to grieve. As we bow our heads and share our grief with his beloved wife, Annie, we must also turn to the skies, to salute his remarkable journeys and his long years of service to our state and nation.

Though he soared deep into space and to the heights of Capitol Hill, his heart never strayed from his steadfast Ohio roots. Godspeed, John Glenn!

Glenn was a colonel in the Marine Corps, for whom he flew missions in World War II and the Korean War. In 1998, his last year in the Senate, Glenn returned to space as a member of the shuttle Discovery, becoming the oldest astronaut ever at age 77.

He is considered a genuine American hero for his remarkable achievements and legacy. He was married for 73 years to his wife, Annie, who survives.